Detection Of Veterinary Drug Residues Research Articles

Rapid determination of residual pefloxacin in mutton based on hyperspectral imaging and data fusion

Non-destructive detection of veterinary drug residues in meat products is critical for ensuring food safety and human health. The feasibility of using visible near-infrared (Vis-NIR) and near-infrared (NIR) hyperspectral imaging (HSI) system combined with data fusion for the prediction of pefloxacin residues in mutton was investigated in this study. A partial least squares regression optimization model was developed by multivariate data processing methods. The results showed that the low-level fusion (LLF) produced better results with R2P = 0.907 and RMSEP = 0.462 as compared to individual data blocks. Furthermore, intermediate-level fusion (ILF) based on iterative retention of informative variables algorithm showed the best results with R2P = 0.940 and RMSEP = 0.375. Finally, the visualized distributions of Vis-NIR and NIR based on the optimal model combination were mapped. The results have demonstrated that a combination of HSI with data fusion may be applied to rapidly and non-destructively detect pefloxacin residues in mutton.

Smartphone-based dual inverse signal MOFs fluorescence sensing for intelligent on-site visual detection of malachite green

The development of intelligent, sensitive, and visual methods for the rapid detection of veterinary drug residues is essential to ensure food quality and safety. Here, a smartphone-based dual inverse signal MOFs fluorescence sensing system was proposed for intelligent in-site visual detection of malachite green (MG). A UiO-66-NH2@RhB-dual-emission fluorescent probe was successfully synthesized in one step using a simple one-pot method. The inner filter effect (IFE) quenches the red fluorescence, while hydrogen bonding interaction enhances the blue fluorescence, enabling highly sensitive, accurate, and visual detection of MG dual inverse signals through fluorescence analysis. The probe showed great linearity over a wide range of 0.1–100 μmol/L, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 20 nmol/L. By integrating smartphone photography and RGB (red, green, and blue) analysis, accurate quantitative analysis of MG in water and actual fish samples can be achieved within 5 min. This developed platform holds great promise for the on-site detection of MG in practical applications, with the advantages of simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and rapidity. Consequently, it may open up a new pathway for on-site evaluation of food safety and environmental health.

Immunochromatographic method based on PCN-222 with dual-signal output for the rapid and sensitive detection of furazolidone metabolites in animal-derived food

The residues of furazolidone and its metabolites (3-amino-2-oxazolidinone [AOZ]) in food would have adverse effects on humans. Herein, a colorimetric and fluorescent dual-signal output immunochromatographic method with a zirconium-based porphyrin metal-organic framework (PCN-222) as the signal label was developed for the detection of 3-[(4-carboxyphenyl) monomethyl] amino-2-oxazolidinone (CPAOZ), a derivative of furazolidone metabolite. PCN-222 was synthesized using the solvothermal method, and the material was characterized via scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform-infrared spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction, which proved the successful synthesis of PCN-222. Synthesized PCN-222, as a nanotag, was bound to antibodies to prepare PCN-222-mAbs with dual optical properties. Under the optimized conditions, PCN-222- lateral flow assay (LFA) exhibited a great linear relationship in the range of 0.25–100 ng/mL. The visual limit detection of CPAOZ using colorimetric and fluorescent signals were 1.0 ng/mL and 0.5 ng/mL, respectively, and the sensitivity was 5- and 10-fold higher than that of the colloidal gold-based LFA method. In addition, PCN-222-LFA was successfully applied to the detection of CPAOZ in shrimp, chicken and milk samples achieving satisfactory recoveries from 92.34% to 117.44%. This study provides an alternative, convenient and sensitive method for the rapid detection of veterinary drug residues.

Improved Detection of Veterinary Drug Residues: Advancing Analytical Techniques to Ensure Food Safety

Abstract: Veterinary drug residues in foods pose risks to consumers and promote antimicrobial resistance. Effective detection methods are needed to monitor and control residues. Recent advancements in analytical techniques for veterinary drug residue detection were reviewed. Key sample preparation methods, including QuEChERS, SPE, ASE, and LLE, were summarized. Instrumental analysis techniques including LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, immunoassays, CE and biosensors were examined. Recent trends and future directions were identified. : LC-MS/MS and GC-MS provide the highest sensitivity and specificity for veterinary drug residue analysis. However, selectivity remains a challenge, particularly for complex matrices like meat and liver. Multi-residue methods now cover over 100 analytes, but analyzing new and legacy drugs lacking established methods is difficult. Increased sensitivity has been achieved through UHPLC and high resolution MS, but detection limits below 1 μg/kg often remain elusive. sSimplified onsite tests are gaining interest. : More selective extraction strategies, data-driven multi-residue methods, microflow LC, and integrated analytical platforms may help address current challenges. Continued advances in sample preparation, instrumentation, data processing, and validation will be needed to fully realize the potential of veterinary drug residue detection and ensure food safety.

Develop an external standard method for high-flux determination of veterinary drug residues liquid milk without solid phase extraction

To get rid of the singularity of the detection of veterinary drug residues in liquid milk, a high-throughput determination was developed for 126 VDRs in 17 categories in liquid milk based on the one-step extraction coupled with LC-HRMS (UPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap-MS). The results showed that adding 2.5 mL of 0.1 mol/L Na2EDTA-McIlvaine in acetonitrile-methanol extractant (50:50, V/V) could effectively improve the response intensity of veterinary drug residues in liquid milk, reduce the matrix effect and eliminate the need for expensive SPE purification. The established external standard quantitative method has a LOD of 0.01–0.30 μg/L for all categories of veterinary drug residues, good linearity in the concentration range of LOQ of 0.03–1.00 μg/L, and correlation coefficients (r2) were all greater than 0.995. The spike recoveries at all three levels were between 80.30% and 119.95%. The positive detection rate of this method in 128 actual samples was 8.59%.

Few Layer Ti3C2 MXene-Based Label-Free Aptasensor for Ultrasensitive Determination of Chloramphenicol in Milk.

Quantitative detection of veterinary drug residues in animal-derived food is of great significance. In this work, a simple and label-free electrochemical aptasensor for the highly sensitive detection of chloramphenicol (CAP) in milk was successfully developed based on a new biosensing method, where the single- or few-layer Ti3C2 MXene nanosheets functionalized via the specific aptamer by self-assembly were used as electrode modifiers for a glassy carbon electrode (aptamer/Ti3C2 MXene/GCE). Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), and so on were utilized for electrochemical and morphological characterization. Under the optimized conditions, the constructed aptasensor exhibited excellent performance with a wider linearity to CAP in the range from 10 fM to 1 μM and a low detection limit of 1 fM. Aptamer/Ti3C2 MXene/GCE demonstrated remarkable selectivity over other potentially interfering antibiotics, as well as exceptional reproducibility and stability. In addition, the aptasensor was successfully applied to determine CAP in milk with acceptable recovery values of 96.13% to 108.15% and relative standard deviations below 9%. Therefore, the proposed electrochemical aptasensor is an excellent alternative for determining CAP in food samples.

A sensitive sensing system based on fluorescence dipeptide nanoparticles for sulfadimethoxine determination

Various types of fluorescent nanoparticles have been proposed for the detection of veterinary drug residues in food. However, structure-induced fluorescence nanoparticles with biodegradability and the capacity to conjugate with molecular recognition elements are lacking. Here, a biodegradable tryptophan-phenylalanine dipeptide-based nanomaterial was assembled and modified with a sulfadimethoxine aptamer (TPNPs@aptamer). Then, a novel and efficient fluorescence sensing strategy, based on TPNPs@aptamer and BHQ1-labeled single-stranded DNA (BHQ1@cDNA), was developed for sulfadimethoxine determination. Under optimal conditions, the fluorescence was linear in the range of 0–200 ng/mL sulfadimethoxine with a detection limit of 1.47 ng/mL (S/N = 3). Satisfactory recoveries of standard additions were found between 92.88 % and 114.15 % for water and milk samples with a relative standard deviation less than 5.0 %, suggesting that the proposed fluorescence sensing strategy can be applied reliably in sulfadimethoxine analysis of liquid foods.

Abridged validation of charm II screening tests for the detection of veterinary drug residues in fish farmed in Cameroon

The intensification of aquaculture in Cameroon requires efficient screening methods to control veterinary drug residues in fish. This is why the charm II radio receptor technique for the detection of antimicrobial residues in aquaculture fish initiated in Belgium was transferred to Cameroon according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The validation parameters included the following tests: repeatability, reproducibility and robustness in addition to the mandatory characteristics, detection capability and specificity. Selected veterinary drug-free fish samples of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), catfish (Clarias gariepinus), carp (Cyprinus Carpio) and kanga (Heterotis niloticus) were spiked at different target concentrations with different antimicrobials (β-lactams, tetracycline, sulfonamides, macrolides and chloramphenicol). The detection capabilities (CCβ) were at MRPL (0.3 µg/kg for chloramphenicol), or below the regulatory limits in a range of 0.25–0.5 MRL with 0% false-negative results. β-lactams (penicillin G), tetracyclines (tetracycline, chloretetracycline and oxytetracycline) and macrolides (erythromycine A) were detected at half MRL (25, 50 and 100 µg/kg respectively), while sulfonamides (sulfamethazine) was detected at 25 µg/kg (0.25 MRL). The detection capabilities (CCβ) obtained were satisfactory as the cut-off factors (Fm) were less than the mean values of blank fish readings (B) (Fm < B). Furthermore, the method was applicable since the cut-off factor was less than the positivity threshold (Fm < T). The variability of the data under repeatability and reproducibility conditions was acceptable, with a relative standard deviation less than 15%. Results were unaffected by delaying the reading time from 0 h to 24 h after the addition of scintillation fluid, with a precision below 16%. Likewise, non-target drugs were not detected even at high concentrations (100 MRL) in a cross-reactivity study. From the overall results, the performance characteristics (detection capabilities, precision, robustness and specificity) were suitable and comparable to the initial validation results, indicating that the transfer to Cameroon laboratory was valid, the method was reliable and could be used in aquaculture fish quality monitoring programs in Cameroon.

Microfluidic fluorescent platform for rapid and visual detection of veterinary drugs.

The overuse of veterinary drugs and veterinary drug residues is increasingly becoming an obstacle to sustainable development worldwide. It is therefore imperative to establish a quantitative, sensitive and efficient method for the detection of veterinary drugs. Herein, we developed a visual microfluidic detection platform for rapid and sensitive detection of veterinary drugs using CdTe quantum dots (QDs) with three different ligands as the sensing units. Green-emissive 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA)-CdTe QDs, yellow-emissive thioglycolic acid (TGA)-CdTe QDs and orange-emissive N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC)-CdTe QDs were synthesized by a sulfhydryl aqueous phase method. These CdTe QDs show selective rapid fluorescence response to pefloxacin (PEF), malachite green (MG), and 1-aminohydantoin hydrochloride (AHD). With the concentration of veterinary drugs increasing, the CdTe QDs reveals a fluorescence color variation from bright to dark until quenched and the response degree of CdTe QDs with different ligands to veterinary drugs is different. Specifically, the limits of detection (LODs) of MPA-CdTe, TGA-CdTe and NAC-CdTe QDs probes for PEF were 7.57 μM, 1.75 μM and 2.90 μM, respectively, and the response was complete in a few seconds, realizing the sensitive and rapid detection of PEF. The three kinds of CdTe QDs could also be used in the detection of other veterinary drugs such as MG and AHD. Finally, a microfluidic detection platform was constructed for visual sensing and rapid detection towards veterinary drugs. The sensor platform holds the advantages of simple operation, low cost, rapid sensing and good sensitivity, and is potentially useful for visual quantitative detection of veterinary drug residues in aquatic products and the environment.

Temporal and spatial patterns in the detection of veterinary drug residues in poultry and swine in Brazil

Resumo A Segurança Alimentar é um tema importante para a saúde pública e o comércio internacional de alimentos. Resíduos de medicamentos veterinários e contaminantes ambientais em produtos de origem animal podem causar doenças e toxicidade aguda em organismos expostos a essas substâncias. Este estudo avaliou dados oficiais de monitoramento de resíduos de medicamentos veterinários do Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento em tecidos de aves e suínos no período de 2002 a 2014 para verificar padrões ocultos na ocorrência de seis medicamentos comuns (Closantel, Diclazuril, Nicarbazina, Sulfaquinoxalina, Doxiciclina e Sulfametazina). A análise dos dados foi realizada por meio de dois métodos de aprendizado de máquina: árvore de decisão e redes neurais, além da avaliação visual por meio de gráficos e mapas. As taxas de contaminação foram baixas, variando de 0 a 0,66%. Foi identificado um padrão de distribuição espacial das detecções de substâncias por região, mas nenhum padrão de distribuição temporal foi observado. No entanto, as regressões mostraram um aumento nos níveis quando essas substâncias foram detectadas, portanto, o monitoramento deve continuar. No entanto, os resultados mostram que os produtos monitorados durante o período do estudo apresentaram baixo risco à saúde pública.

Risk Analysis of Veterinary Drug Residues in Aquatic Products in the Yangtze River Delta of China

Aquatic products are favored by people all over the world, but the potential quality and safety issues cannot be ignored. To determine the risk of veterinary drug residues in aquatic products in the Yangtze River Delta, this study used geographic information system method to analyze Chinese veterinary drugs in aquatic products in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui (Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomerations) from 2017 to 2019. A study of the spatial distribution pattern, hot spot detection and analysis, and spatiotemporal cluster analysis of the residual excess rate and detection rate showed a random spatial distribution in the overall excess rate and detection rate of veterinary drug residues in aquatic products from 2017 to 2019. The results of hot spot analysis and spatiotemporal cluster analysis showed that the rate of detection of veterinary drug residues and the rate of detection of residues in excess of regulatory standards were clustered. This study provides a scientific basis for food safety evaluation and risk management suggestions.

Detection and determination of spectinomycin and lincomycin in poultry muscles and pork by ASE-SPE-GC–MS/MS

An innovative study on the qualitative identification and quantitative determination of spectinomycin and lincomycin residues in poultry (chicken, duck, and goose) muscles and pork using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS) was conducted. The samples were extracted and separated with accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and then purified and enriched by solid-phase extraction (SPE). Then, the obtained residues were derivatized with 200 μL bis(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) for 60 min at 75 °C, and the derivative products were injected into a GC–MS/MS system. Under the optimized conditions, the limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) of spectinomycin and lincomycin in samples were 2.5–4.6 μg/kg and 5.7–7.6 μg/kg, respectively, the targets’ recoveries were 79.7 %–94.2 %, the determination coefficients were 0.9992−0.9998, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were 1.2 %–3.5 %. The method revealed good linearity, and the parameters met the European Union requirements for the detection of veterinary drug residues. Poultry muscles and pork were procured from local stores for actual sample testing, confirming the feasibility and practicability of this method. Therefore, this study established an ASE-SPE-GC–MS/MS method to detect spectinomycin and lincomycin residues in animal-derived food.

Nanomaterial-based fluorescent biosensors for veterinary drug detection in foods.

Veterinary drugs have been widely used in the food industry. Their residues in food products need to be tightly regulated to ensure food safety. In particular, some veterinary drugs are still used illegally, although they have already been banned. Nanomaterials are playing an increasingly important role in analytical chemistry due to their unique properties. Compared to traditional organic dyes and colloidal gold nanoparticle labels, fluorescent nanomaterials appear particularly attractive for the detection of veterinary drug residues. This review summarizes recent advancements of fluorescent biosensors using nanomaterials for the detection of veterinary drug residues in foods. The useful properties of each type of fluorescent nanomaterial are first discussed such as large Stokes shifts, long emission lifetime, and high quantum yields, which are useful for detection in food-related sample matrix. The following target recognition molecules are then reviewed individually including antibodies, aptamers, molecularly imprinted polymers, and metal ion coordination based ligands. Representative bioconjugation and assay methods are discussed for each recognition mechanism. Finally, a few future research directions are outlined in the last section of this review.

An exploratory study on the simultaneous screening for residues of chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin and sulphadimidine using recombinant antibodies

ABSTRACTA recombinant gene CCS consisting of three single genes (CAP-ScFv, CPFX-ScFv and SM2-ScFv) were constructed by PCR with three pairs of primers. The length of CCS gene fragment was 2,260 bp. A recombinant plasmid (pGEX-CCS) was obtained in pGEX-6p-1. pGEX-CCS was induced in E.coli BL21(DE3), and the molecular weight of recombinant fusion protein (GST-CCS) was 108.87 kDa. GST-CCS was successfully applied to analysis of CAP-OVA (CAP-ovalbumin conjugate), CPFX-OVA and SM2-OVA simultaneously. The sensitivity of GST-CCS against three veterinary drugs was tested by indirect ELISA at dilution ratio 1:8000. These findings provide a foundation for the construction of fusion genes with linkers and for the potential development of a rapid screening method for the simultaneous detection of veterinary drug residues.

PSYCHOSOCIAL IMPACT OF PSYCHIATRIC GENETIC TEST RESULTS: ANTICIPATING THE CHALLENGES

An innovative study on the qualitative identification and quantitative determination of spectinomycin and lincomycin residues in poultry (chicken, duck, and goose) muscles and pork using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS) was conducted. The samples were extracted and separated with accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and then purified and enriched by solid-phase extraction (SPE). Then, the obtained residues were derivatized with 200 μL bis(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) for 60 min at 75 °C, and the derivative products were injected into a GC–MS/MS system. Under the optimized conditions, the limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) of spectinomycin and lincomycin in samples were 2.5–4.6 μg/kg and 5.7–7.6 μg/kg, respectively, the targets’ recoveries were 79.7 %–94.2 %, the determination coefficients were 0.9992−0.9998, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were 1.2 %–3.5 %. The method revealed good linearity, and the parameters met the European Union requirements for the detection of veterinary drug residues. Poultry muscles and pork were procured from local stores for actual sample testing, confirming the feasibility and practicability of this method. Therefore, this study established an ASE-SPE-GC–MS/MS method to detect spectinomycin and lincomycin residues in animal-derived food.

Comparison of Chicken IgY and Mammalian IgG in Three Immunoassays for Detection of Sulfamethazine in Milk

Antibodies are the most important reagents for the development of highly sensitive and specific immunoassays to quantify analytes of interest in food and environmental samples. While immunoglobulin G (IgG)-derived antibodies from rabbit and mouse are traditionally employed in immunoassays, recent findings suggest that chicken egg yolk antibody (immunoglobulin Y (IgY)) provides several advantages over mammalian IgG. However, limited studies to date have examined the possibility of replacing IgG with IgY in immunoassays. In the current investigation, the performance of chicken IgY and IgG derived from rabbit and mouse was systematically compared in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and matrix effect under parallel conditions with three typical assay formats, specifically, indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA), fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA), and colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay (GICA), for detection of sulfamethazine (SMZ) as the reference molecule. We evaluated and discussed the influence of different coating antigens, tracers, and physicochemical factors on the performance of IgY and IgG in the immunoassays. Under optimized conditions, the sensitivities of icELISA (IC50 values of 6.70, 4.76, and 1.66 ng mL−1 with recoveries of 86.1–131.8% and precision of < 12%) and FPIA (IC50 values of 24.79, 20.87, and 10.83 ng mL−1 with recoveries of 81.8–120.2% and precision of < 17.3%) based on both IgY and IgG were sufficient to detect SMZ in milk while only GICA based on mouse IgG provided acceptable sensitivity. Our collective data indicate that IgY could be an acceptable alternative to mammalian antibodies in some situations (in icELISA and FPIA) for use in the development of effective immunoassays for screening and detection of veterinary drug residues in food samples.

Highly sensitive visual detection of amantadine residues in poultry at the ppb level: A colorimetric immunoassay based on a Fenton reaction and gold nanoparticles aggregation

Colorimetric biosensors for the on-site visual detection of veterinary drug residues are required for food control in developing countries and other resource-constrained areas, where sophisticated instruments may not be available. In this study, we developed a highly sensitive immunoassay for amantadine residues in poultry. By introducing a novel signal generation strategy into an indirect competitive immunoassay, a highly sensitive assay for amantadine residues in chicken was achieved for naked eye readout at the part per billion (ppb) level. Signal amplification was achieved in the designed immunoassay by combining conventional indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Fenton reaction-regulated oxidation of cysteine, and gold nanoparticle aggregation. Therefore, the cascade reaction remarkably enhanced the assay sensitivity and led to a pronounced color change from red to dark purple in the solution, which could be easily distinguished with the naked eye even at approximately 1 μg kg−1 in poultry muscle. Moreover, the color change can be quantitatively assayed with a classic high-throughput plate reader for contaminated poultry samples. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.51 nM (0.095 ng mL−1). The recovery rates for spiked chicken samples ranged from 78% to 84% with relative standard deviations <15%. Therefore, we propose that this immunoassay could be generally applicable for on-site detection in the field of food control.

Multi-residue Determination of Veterinary Drugs in Fishery Products Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

The aim of the present study was to develop a multi-residue confirmation method for the analysis of veterinary drugs in fishery products using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The chosen veterinary drugs, which are legally authorized compounds in Korea, were categorized into chemical classes such as amphenicols, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, penicillins, pleuromutilins, sulfonamides, and tetracyclines. Sample extraction and cleanup were evaluated based on a modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe procedure using octadecylsilane and primary secondary amine sorbents for purification. Extractions were carried out using an ammonium acetate buffer and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (pH 4.0) with the addition of ammonium formate in water/acetonitrile. Instrumental analysis was performed using positive/negative ionization in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. The chromatographic conditions were optimized to give run time of 0.98 using matrix-matched calibrations constructed at six different concentrations. The proposed method was applied to the analysis of 403 real samples obtained from domestic markets in Korea, and a number of samples tested positive (27.1%) for the targeted drugs. This analytical method is suitable for reliable detection of veterinary drug residues in fishery products.

Detection of veterinary drug residues in surface waters collected nearby farming areas in Galicia, North of Spain

The occurrence of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment has become a matter of concern in the last decade due to potential risks posed to non-target organisms and the potential for unintended human exposure via food chain. This concern has been driven by a high detection frequency for drugs in environmental samples; these substances are produced in large quantities and are used in both veterinary and human medicine, leading to deposition and potential effects in the environment. However, few studies have focused on the presence of pharmaceuticals in rural areas associated with farming activities in comparison to urban areas. The aim of this study is to investigate the occurrence of pharmaceutically active compounds in surface waters collected from urban and rural areas in northwestern Spain. A monitoring study was conducted with 312 river water samples analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Positive detection of pharmaceuticals was made for 51 % of the samples. Decoquinate, sulfamethazine, sulfamethoxypyridazine and trimethoprim were the drugs most frequently detected, being present in more than 10 % of the samples. The sampling sites located downstream of the discharge points for wastewater treatment plants yielded the highest number of positive samples, 13 % of the positive samples were detected in these sites and 38 % of the samples collected near the collection point of a drinking water treatment plant were positive.

EU sampling strategies for the detection of veterinary drug residues in aquaculture species: Are they working?

Over the past 50 years, the culture of aquatic species in controlled conditions to enhance production has grown in importance and now provides nearly 50% of the world's seafood supply. In part, this expansion has been made possible by the use of antibiotics, antifungals, and other veterinary medicines to control disease and improve welfare. Despite guidelines being available, the sampling programmes for drug residue surveillance of aquaculture products recommended by the CODEX Alimentarius Commission were withdrawn in 2008 and put under review. Directive 96/23/EC sets out legislation to govern how sampling programmes for drug residue surveillance should be conducted within the EU. This directive applies both to produce raised within the EU and also imported products from third countries. This communication examines the existing EU sampling regimen for aquaculture products and comments on its possible application in a global context. We examine UK statutory sampling data that, while indicating the effectiveness of the directive, also suggests that the directive may lead to unnecessary sampling. Regarding imports, examination of the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) database using process control charts and statistical modelling suggests that the sampling regimen described in the directive is effective but not sufficiently flexible for the range of aquaculture practices that exist. Limitations of the directive, datasets, and practices are further discussed.